Julia Fullerton-Batten in the Anglican Church : Perfect Symbiosis

From the early days of photography, some photographers deliberately staged scenes, setting themselves apart from the spontaneous nature of snapshots. Did they have more artistic ambitions than their peers? Couldn’t they express themselves through candid shots? Nevertheless, they were often dismissed as failed painters: Oscar Gustave Rejlander, Henry Peach Robinson, Julia Margaret Cameron, Lewis Carroll, later William Mortensen and many others. It is precisely in this terrain that Julia Fullerton-Batten walks in the footsteps of more contemporary colleagues like Gregory Crewdson, Jeff Wall, Erwin Olaf and David LaChapelle, creating her own body of work in an undeniably unique way.

Cosmopolitan

Fullerton-Batten was born in Bremen, Germany. She spent her youth in Germany and the United States, but after her parents’ divorce, she and her siblings moved to the United Kingdom. There, she completed her high school studies and then studied photography. Subsequently, she assisted professional photographers for five years before a first commercial assignment launched her career in 1995, and she gained her first recognition as an art photographer in 2005. For the past 15 years, she has completed 12 projects, including Old Father Thames, a series of photos about the history of the River Thames that is still ongoing. She exhibites worldwide, won numerous awards, and her photographs are held, among others, by the National Portrait Gallery in London.

Symbiosis

Julia Fullerton-Batten: “Being half British and residing in the United Kingdom for many years, the framework that the curator of the Biennale proposed to me was simply perfect. The English church in Ostend has been part of the Church of England for just over 150 years: it is a multicultural community that worships in English. Stéphane Verheye selected works from my projects Old Father Thames, Photographie Mon Amour, The Male Body, Looking out from Within, Feral Children, and A Testament to Love.”
The works are presented in large formats in this exceptional church setting, while others are shown in peepholes. Visitors will notice that not only the religiously inspired works, but also the more profane ones perfectly symbiotize with the neo-Gothic architecture of the church.

Mysticism

Indeed, Julia’s photographs, often inspired by cinema, are imbued with an alluring mysticism that urges the viewer to look at them again. And again. And again. Each time, something new emerges from them. The photographer often works with models she discovers on the street, and it shows: she achieves a certain stiffness, even discomfort, which is difficult to achieve with professional models or actors in these photos – which are, by the way, technically perfect. This duality between amateuristic models and technical perfection also plays an important role in the complexity of the “scenes” in her works, which always involve a small army of stylists and set designers, as if they were Hollywood productions. But be careful, behind her sophisticated staging are relevant social observations. And no matter how many layers of makeup she applies to them, they could not erase the emotions and desires of her protagonists, captured in a silent expression like in the works of the old ‘primitive’ Flemish masters.

A must-see exhibition!

International Biennial of Photography, Ostend
September 16 – November 12, 2023

Julia Fullerton-Batten at the Anglican Church
Langestraat 101 Ostend
Tuesday – Saturday 10am – 5:30pm
Sunday 1pm – 5:30pm

www.fotobiennale.be/en

Jenny Ymker at Fort Napoleon and Royal Park

Jenny Ymker travels the world, often with a suitcase in hand. Her work is not fundamentally feminine, but it breathes a feminine perspective. The ‘character’ depicted may seem lost, adrift in an indifferent environment, but the artist relies on her imagination to stay on course and transform her solitude into strength.

Gobelin Tapestry

The basis of her work is photography. She translates her photos into gobelin tapestries and thus takes her place in an ancient storytelling tradition, such as the Bayeux Tapestry or gobelins based on paintings by Rubens or other great artists. For the production of these tapestries, the artist collaborates with Roland Dekeukelaere from Flanders Tapestries in Wielsbeke, Belgium. Ymker says: “Textiles give depth to a representation. It is not so much the perspective depth of the representation, but rather a depth of the material itself. The fibrous structure of the thread adds its own depth to the colors and softens the sharp boundary between the space in which the viewer finds themselves and the surface of the wall tapestry.” In addition to these large-format gobelins, Jenny Ymker showcases photos in LED lightboxes, often the size of a shoebox – true viewing boxes – or transforms them into video.

Absurd Tales

“I want to evoke stories within the spectator. I worked in the healthcare field for some time, and there I realized that when someone is no longer able to tell a story, even a small one, the feeling of having meaning, the feeling of importance, slowly disappears. Stories shape our identity and define who we are. Telling stories is an essential part of our human condition, which is why it is so important to me.”
The individual in search in the vast world is a recurring theme in her work. This corresponds to the romantic movement where the feeling of the immensity of the world is a major theme – as in Caspar David Friedrich, for example. However, Ymker feels even more affinity with absurdism. She is not seeking unity with the grandeur of the world, but rather the constant dialogue between the lonely individual full of aspirations towards the rest of the world and this very world that surrounds him but ignores it. This tension pushes the efforts of the individual towards absurdity.

An Eternal Paradise

In all her works, she portrays herself. For her, this is logical, since the presence of someone else in this “world” she stages would be disturbing to her creativity. She is Adam and God at the same time: creator and first inhabitant of her own world. But rest assured – this world is not so lonely: for the staging and shooting, she collaborates with her husband Kees van de Ven.
“The photos are snapshots of a story, what happens before or after remains open.”
One thing is certain: Jenny Ymker’s images do not leave you indifferent. Turning her back to the viewer, she freezes. Overwhelmed by the environment, a memory or an unfulfilled desire. As a spectator, you get carried away by her emotion and get lost in her landscapes. The heightened romantic image of a man or a woman gazing at the horizon has not lost any of its power. Thoughts and dreams emerge. You feel and breathe with the main characters who are at the mercy of a grand natural environment. It’s as if everything is finally as it should have always been – in Jenny Ymker’s mind, everything falls into place.

International Photography Biennial, Ostend
September 16 – November 12, 2023

Jenny Ymker at Fort Napoleon
Vuurtorenweg 13, Ostend
Tuesday – Sunday 10 am – 6 pm

Jenny Ymker at Royal Park
Koningin Astridlaan, Ostend
Permanently accessible to the public

www.fotobiennale.be/en

It’s safe to say that everyone can use a little inspiration on a daily basis, especially us photographers who thrive off creativity to keep creating our work.

To be inspired is such a positive emotional experience, and it should be nurtured and remembered in order for us to be the best artist we can be.

But how do you find inspiration in the first place? Is there some specific process to tap into inspiration or is it a matter of chance? How can you stay motivated and focused on your passion?

The advice in this article can be used as inspiration for the student, an exercise manual for the working professional, a reference for the teacher, a document of the contemporary photographic scene for the future historian, or just some food for thought.

It’s an article to keep on hand to revisit, because if something doesn’t resonate now, they may still serve as useful resources at a later stage. I’ve also spoken to a few professional photographers to gather their thoughts and experiences on the topic. Let’s conquer the blues together! 

1 Slow Down

Photography as a medium definitely has a point-and-shoot quality to it regardless of the type of camera you use, especially if we compare the medium to other art forms such as drawing, painting or sculpture.

It’s not until you slow down the process that the mind is able to dissect what you are seeing, which then allows you to analyse the contents by inspecting and figuring out what exactly your interest is in the subject.

In short, it’s about thinking more and shooting less, which is a wonderful way to understand your photography more and keep things moving forward. Sometimes the best thing to do is put the camera down and simply observe and take note.

2 Change it up

Sometimes life can become a daily grind, where nothing seems to excite you as you fall into the rhythm of routine. You can overcome this by doing different things and by doing things differently.

Perhaps you’re tired of visiting the same location, so change it up, go somewhere new and unfamiliar. Maybe you always shoot solo, switch it up and work with other photographers for assistance, even if it’s for nothing more than moral support, you’ll be sure to find inspiration in the process.

A good example of how change can shape our work is by Sydney street photographer Douwe Dijkstra, who is known for his square black and white images.

He says that simply changing the image ratio has transformed his vision, sharing, “The format forces me to compose my images differently. I’m still relying on the fact that composition comes naturally to me, but it forces me to work with a more horizontal composition.”

3 Be Passionate

One thing is certain when it comes to photography: in order to stay motivated, you must be passionate about what you photograph.

Finding subjects and themes that resonate with you is a great and simple way to be inspired and pursue shooting. For me, it’s my love of nature, the ocean, mountains, forests and all of these things that are interconnected.

These subjects all have a sincere interest within me, which intrigue me to learn more about these environments, the ecological challenges and issues they face, as well as the sheer beauty of these places.

Be inquisitive, learn as much as you can. Make the commitment, practice patience and compassion. Ask lots of questions. Keep looking, keep thinking and remember there are no correct answers, only fragments of moments that hopefully, form some kind of narrative, feeling or personal experience unique to your vision.

4 Make it happen

Working everyday involves both discipline and an open attitude toward the work you create, which can be easier said than done.

As photographer/waterman Russell Ord believes “hard work always beats talent that does not work”, a quote he heard as a kid from his rugby coach.

“Like most kids, I didn’t have a clue what he was raving on about at the time, but it well and truly resonates with how I have lived my life to date,” he says.

“Inspiration and motivation comes firstly from a necessity to provide for my family and pay for my moderate lifestyle, which is wholly based on the feeling of freedom.

I do this in several ways which is a mixture of the photographic grind, personal projects and knowing exactly when to have a good hard look at myself to make the correct mental changes or the right mindset to keep progressing. 

“Having goals within the personal projects helps tremendously with firstly finishing the project but will open up possibilities of future business opportunities, this is what I like to call a win-win, work that is 100% rewarding on a financial/personal level.” 

5 Study the light  

Mundane subjects surround us in our everyday lives, which is what makes them the most accessible subject matter for photography.

The catch is that mundane is just ordinary if the light doesn’t compliment the subject, so the key is to photograph your scenes with the right light to transform the ordinary subject into an extraordinary subject.

Find a place where the sunlight shines either early morning or late afternoon, and sit down and watch the space change as the light moves and slowly fades into darkness.

Notice how everything changes with the light in the few hours; the work takes on various qualities as the light dances. It really is revelatory.

How does this experiment help? It gives you an appreciation and better understanding of the importance of light to create more meaningful images, hopefully inspiring you to shoot more regularly no matter where you may be.

Look out for part two next week.

Bryan Putnam of Art Sublimina Photography recently announced his photography has been recognized with national and international awards.

Putnam’s photograph Dandelion Head has been included in The 2023 Audubon Photography Awards: Top 100, according to a news release. The photo of a juvenile green heron ranked No. 38 on the list. In addition, he has been named 2023 Cape Fear Living Magazine’s Photographer of the Year. To round out these achievements, three of his photographs have been selected as finalists in the Bird Photographer of the Year 2023 competition.

Putnam (pictured at right), a North Carolina native, lives in Wilmington.

“Growing up, he was always fascinated with art, wildlife, and composition. His eye was always taking in lines and color and seeing arrangements and connections,” the release stated. “He is utterly fascinated with the interconnectedness of all things and how he, we, fit into it.”
 
The 2023 Audubon Photography Awards received almost 9,000 photographs from more than 2,200 individuals from the United States and Canada, according to the release. Audubon recognizes photographers in categories such as amateur, professional, youth, plants for birds, female birds, video, the Fisher Prize to the photograph with the highest score in originality and artistic merit, and a grand prize.

“One of my favorite experiences in my time as a photographer was spending time with two fledgling green herons on Greenfield Lake last summer,” Putnam said in the release. “This moment was magical for me, and ultimately, I was witness to this beauty flying away from the nest for the first time to a nearby tree. The experience is what these photos are all about.”

According to the release, Cape Fear Living holds an annual photography contest that looks for the best photographs and photographers that capture the Coastal Cape Fear Region. The juror and editor-in-chief chose photographs based on beauty and composition and selections came down to the photographer’s unique perspective and diversity in approach, the release stated. 

Alex Gonzalez is a Dallas-based writer who covers music, pop culture, arts, LGBTQ+ stories, and more.

Members of the Radford Photo Club will meet on Wednesday, Sept. 27, On at 6 p.m. at the Radford Public Library for a program about Cityscapes presented by Michele Borgarelli, an international award-winning photographer and a club member.

Borgarelli’s photography journey started when he received an Agfamatic 100 for his 10th birthday. “Since that time, I have been fascinated by photography and have been using Minolta, Polaroid, Rolleiflex, Pentax and Nikon cameras.” His photography interest is mainly focused on landscape, travel, street, and black and white photography.

Recently, he embraced the idea of Luigi Ghirri and Sebastiao Salgado: photography is a language through which stories can be told that can be understood by anybody. As such, Borgarelli’s work is now organized in projects aimed at telling different stories, sometimes with the same pictures.

“I do this by integrating the context of the photo itself in the new narrative I wish to portray with my own work. It is in this manner that new stories can emerge from the same images.”

The photo challenge for the September meeting is the recent club picnic. There is also an open category and a table for photos members would like to discuss.

The Radford Photo Club is made up of professional and amateur photographers from throughout the New River Valley. Meetings, events, and outings are open to the public. If you have questions about the club, email Lucy Gilmore at lucyg.gilmore@gmail.com or Michele Borgarelli at mborgarelli@gmail.com

AMTD Group Inc., AMTD IDEA Group, and AMTD Digital Inc., jointly through AMTD World Media and Entertainment Group, together with L’Officiel Inc. SAS,  announce a long term strategic alliance with ENVISEAM, a trailblazer in the realms of fine art, entertainment, and contemporary pop culture.

Concentration and focus are among the most crucial skills to master as a freelancer and photographer. Being productive in your workspace is the key to gaining an edge over others when it comes to the basics. In this article, I have collected 11 of my best hacks for maintaining daily productivity.

1. Prioritize Planning and Organization

The first step toward leading a more productive lifestyle is effective planning and organization. This involves creating to-do lists, jotting down important tasks, and keeping a notebook. While I do keep some of my to-do items digitally, it is the act of physically writing things down that aids in better task recall. Consider investing in a quality Moleskine notebook, it will prove invaluable.

2. Master Time Management

It’s easy to get sidetracked and spend too much time on tasks you shouldn’t be doing. Personally, I sometimes procrastinate by tidying up or handling miscellaneous home errands. While taking breaks is important, knowing how to manage your working time versus your leisure time is crucial for efficiency. Remember, we all have the same 24 hours in a day; it’s up to you to manage your allotted time effectively.

3. Create an Inspiring Workspace

I place a high value on having an inspiring workspace. Your workspace should be functional and motivational. For me, this means working on a desktop setup rather than on a laptop. Although there are occasions when using a laptop is unavoidable, I always strive to work from my desktop setup instead of just using a laptop in bed or at a café. Additionally, surrounding yourself with small inspirational items, like an aroma lamp, can create a work-conducive environment every time you use it.

4. Set Clear Goals

You have numerous tasks to complete each day, and it’s impossible to accomplish everything in a single day. Knowing how to prioritize tasks based on their importance and urgency is crucial for efficiency. Just because something is urgent doesn’t necessarily make it important, and vice versa. I categorize my to-do items into four categories: urgent and important, urgent and not important, not urgent but important, and not urgent and not important. I prioritize addressing urgent and important tasks first, which may include meeting image deadlines or working on an article.

5. Invest in Continuous Learning

Learning might not be the first thing that comes to mind when considering productivity, but it is closely linked. Photographers often fall into the trap of sticking with the same methods and techniques, both on and off set. While effective, this can hinder your personal development. A productive photographer continuously expands their knowledge as it exercises the brain.

6. Delegate and Outsource

You’re not a one-person operation. Chances are, you need an accountant to manage your business, at the very least. From there, consider hiring a retoucher or even finding a producer. Outsourcing allows you to focus on what’s truly important: your creativity. As an artist, free yourself from tasks that don’t inspire you; for me, that would be retouching.

7. Utilize Efficient Editing Techniques

Knowing how to edit your work efficiently saves time and strain on your eyes. I advocate using presets for this reason, but not just any presets—create your own. This greatly assists in developing your unique visual style. Embracing automation is also essential. I use a lot of Photoshop actions when I need to. As well as that, although I do use my own presets to edit images, I still go ahead and make adjustments unique to the specific image. I have learned which instrument does what, and this knowledge allows me to make beautiful edits in no time. I would strongly suggest learning and playing around with your editing software to really get a hang of what everything does and how they work in combination. 

8. Limit Distractions

Limiting distractions is self-evidently crucial for enhanced productivity. I’m easily distracted by things as significant as an email and as trivial as a fly on the wall. That’s one reason I use a monitor hood—it narrows my field of vision and helps me stay focused. Another helpful tactic is installing apps that block access to certain websites, such as Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube. I personally use an app called SelfControl, available for free on the Mac App Store. Additionally, keeping your phone on silent and out of arm’s reach helps minimize distractions.

9. Embrace Automation

If you can’t outsource, automation is your next best option. There are solutions available that can sort through your photos, group them, and select the ones in focus, among other tasks. When I used to shoot events, I often relied on the auto-edit feature to process images more quickly. This is especially important when dealing with high volumes of work. Even if you primarily work in Photoshop, consider creating actions that save time on repetitive tasks. Another useful program is Retouch4Me, which offers AI-enabled presets for efficiently retouching multiple images at once.

10. Practice Self-Care

Taking care of yourself may not seem directly related to productivity, but it plays a significant role. Neglecting self-care can lead to fatigue, which hampers your ability to work efficiently. Taking time off, engaging in physical activities, or pursuing hobbies can help clear your mind and keep your mental engine running smoothly. In essence, regular maintenance for your brain is essential, so make self-care a priority.

11. Network and Collaborate

Networking is another point worth emphasizing. Knowing how to make efficient sales is a direct path to increasing profitability. Being an effective salesperson can attract higher-paying clients, allowing you to take on fewer assignments. Perhaps only three clients a month can meet your income targets. Productivity in this context involves being approachable, likable, and memorable.

Closing Remarks

These are my tips for becoming a more productive photographer. They have helped me establish a more efficient business model while working fewer hours and earning more. If you follow these tips, I believe you will see improvements in your life and a greater sense of efficiency. Have you found any productivity tips that have made a difference for you? Feel free to share them in the comments below!

… I pulled in about 2:30 this morning and made it to bed around 4AM which is not that much out of the norm for me … Katie was very happy to see me, even after a week of being spoiled rotten by Jami … it was good to get some rest in my own bed! The trip was fun as I got to spend time with friends and family and re-acquainted with So Cal traffic delights … thanks to the addition of many more lanes, the freeways are about the same as they were when we left … it is a wonderous place … so is home … back with my friends and critters and a slower pace of life.

The show at the Smothers Theater on the Pepperdine campus went well and looking forward to a return visit next year … incredibly talented and professional people in charge of the theater and they made everything work for me! Thankyou!

A portrait of a Coopers Hawk in my backyard, perched just above the bird feeder looking for a quick meal if a hapless bird comes in for food. Coopers Hawks dine primarily on other birds but will substitute other creatures if the birds are not available. Until you have seen a Coopers in aerial combat with another bird, you haven’t seen air to air combat … they are masters of it and will fly through bushes and trees in pursuit of a meal.

Below is a Black Hawk as he leaves a perch in a tree overlooking the fishponds at Bubbling Ponds Fish Hatchery in Page Springs. Black Hawks are large hawks and are typically found in riparian areas … fish and other creatures found in the vicinity make up their diet … they are regal in flight!

Making another supercomputer for a friend … all the parts are here, so tomorrow another monster computer will come into existence.

Into a new day and week and methinks it shall be a very good one … I can think of no reason why it will be other than that … it is a choice we make every day we are here. Keep breathing and smile … make someone’s day.

Cheers,

Ted

After the day’s struggle, there is no freedom like
unfettered thought, no sound like the music of silence.
And though behind you lies a road of dust and heat, and
before you the fear of untried paths, in this brief hour
you are the master of all highways, and the universe nestles
in your soul. Therefore, in the night, sit still a while
and dream awake, ere you lie down to sleep.

excerpt from Ere You Lie Down to Sleep by Max Ehrmann

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The easiest way to reach Mr. Grussing is by email: ted@tedgrussing.com

In addition to sales of photographs already taken Ted does special shoots for patrons on request and also does air-to-air photography for those who want photographs of their airplanes in flight. All special photographic sessions are billed on an hourly basis.

Ted also does one-on-one workshops for those interested in learning the techniques he uses.  By special arrangement Ted will do one-on-one aerial photography workshops which will include actual photo sessions in the air.

More about Ted Grussing …

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Photography Without Borders is a non-profit after-school program that allows young people to tell their stories through photography.